Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-02-18
ALETTER FROM CAPT. PRIEsTLEY.
The Work of the L. :. Indian Service
at Yakima. Washington Territory.

cyrus LdiiNoH VI tIilS city ItccHtl. re-
ceived from Capt. Priestley letter
describing his work in the Indian ser
vice at Yakima. Having permission
of the parties concerned we publish
below the contents of the letter, which
will doubtless be interesting TO the
readers of The Democrat: The letter
was dated at Fort Sincoe, Washington
Territory, January q, 1887, and reads
as follows:
Let me tell you that
since | took charge of this Agency
have discovered only in part the very
perplexing and annoying duties Of an
Indian agent; SO things do not progress
at all times as one might wish. On
account Of the change made in the
agency my duties have been very ar
duous indeed. | begin to believe that
it requires some nerve and considerable
common sense to superintend several
tribes of Indians. They are not to be
controlled or fooled at this late day with
an old copper tea kettle; so you may
have some idea of how | am compelled
to study and work and use every effort
to discharge the duties which deyolve
upon me. must say never knew what
downright, real hard work was before.
| work from z a. III until 10 and Il
p. m, and all day Sunday. This |
have kept up for over thirty days row.
This Indian Reservation is composed
of several tribes of Indians-Yaka-
mas, Piutes, Klicitats, Toppenish and
some others | cannot now name.
Some of them have good farms and
require no aid from us, but large
number are imprOvident and reluctant
" abandon the chase. The wild ones
are given limited quantities of govern
ment supplies-such as agricultural
implements, and in some instances
cattle. They are forced to send their
children to our Industrial boarding
school, and this compulsion often gives
rise to trouble and very unpleasant
complications and, in some instances
very serious questions are TO be con-
sidered such as require the authority
of the agent to be exercised to its
fullest extent. In some cases, prior
to the time | came here, the police
have been defied by some Of the wild
Indians. | may here remark that our
police are all Indians, and, while they
are all brave men they can be OYerpOW-
cred; and have been compelled to aban-
IL 10, Of ,rla ,ri,y
by the agent. So far have been for
tunate i'll not giving any orders which
were not fully carried out. My inten-
ton is to 90 slow and not undertake
that which | cannot accomplish. As
a rule all the Indians both wild and
civilized are very law abiding, and
they fully understand that the govern
ment is doing a great work for them
and that it is folly for them to try to
evade the restrictions placed upon the
following of their barbarOuS practices
The sun dance and other wild exhibit
tions of Indian cruelty are prohibit
ed by law, and the court of Indian
offences composed wholly of Indians,
have jurisdiction over such caSeS-the
punishment inflicted bv this court is
indeed severe. | find this Indian court
Il great help to me in the discharge OF
my duties, for | refer large number
of eases to them which, if compelled to
settle III the ageni S court, would oc-
cupy much more time than / could
possibly devote to such service. The
fines for minor offences which i'll q
white mans court would be from SIS
to $50 are much higher in this Indian
court and the costs too are increased
say that this court pockets the fines
and therefore, makes them excessive.
This charge is a matter which | am
about to investigate. An appeal can
be taken from this Indian court to the
agent, who has authority to affirm or
annul the decree. 1t has been my
province to exercise this right i'll but
two instances. The agent however
receives no fees hence does not court
or invite litigation.
Most of the Indians on this reserve
own quite large bands of horses and
cattle; those having the latter soon be-
come wealthy, for the price of a good
steer III this market will range from
$50 to 80. and the cost of raising upon
this immense range is merely nominal;
but little, if any hay is fed to them in
winter. The Department herd, mum
bering 2,2O0 have not used up to this
date over 20 tons of hay-only the
weak animals are given any. Horses
live upon the brush and grass in the
canyons, and come out in good shape
in the spring Little or no attention
is paid to raising hogs Indians
do not care to raise them. Quite a
number live in the canyons on grass,
roots. etc, and manage to live through
the winter: but they are unfit for use
on account of their starved condition.
The mining interests throughout this
territory are receiving more attention
than heretofore; this in consequence
of the rich mining country being
opened up and market furnished by
the aid of the L. p. II. II. Coal mines
are being opened up in many localities.
Gold and silver mines are receiving
the usual attention. Quite number
of specimens of copper ore have been
discovered in several localities; this
ore is said to yield about 20 per cent.
pure copper, but as most of those cop
per discoveries are at points several
miles from the railroad, but little or no
attention is paid 10 the mining of that
metal. There appears to be an open
ing for speculation in the mining of
this ore. 1t is said that gold has
been discovered on this reservation in
very small quantities. There are no
indications of any mining having been
done to warrant the conclusion that
much of this metal has ever been
found. The Indian pays no attention
to the mining pursuits. Those not AT
present engaged in farming will soon
be compelled to resort to it as there is
no other way by which they can obtain
a living. When first being taught 10
plant potatoes they were indifferent as
to the result, for when their tutors
white mem had left the field the In
dams would dig up the seed and use ii
for food. In this respect as well as in
many other things civilization has
made rapid strides against them.
But few now wear the blanket or
paint their faces. While their cos
tune is not exactly what white men